Pride Parades 2012 - “Educating for Empowerment”

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — June 22, 2012 — The LGBT community has seen increased political
support and recognition with the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the month of
June being declared LGBT Pride Month by President Barack Obama for the fourth year
in a row. Sadly, despite these changes, much opposition and animosity towards this
group still remains.

Students, staff and faculty of Alliant International University decided to take a
bold stance in support of and in solidarity with the LGBT community by participating
in LGBT pride parades in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. The University
has been delighted to see such an overwhelming response, with more than 100 people
participating from each of the three campuses.

“It’s so amazing to be part of a professional community that involves itself in events
like this that celebrate all of us. I’m a strong ally of the LBGT community and it
really means a lot to me to be affiliated with a workplace and a school that cares
so much about being a supportive force for pride,” said Jessa Forsythe-Crane, a staff
participant from the LA campus.

The first of the three parades was held on June 10 in Los Angeles. Participants and
their families were brightly dressed in t-shirts with the colors of the rainbow and
Alliant’s parade slogan, “Educating for Empowerment.”

Student participant Alexandra Emmons added, “It means a lot that I’m a part of a community
that does celebrate diversity and equality in this way and that it is allowed to be
here. I don’t think that it’s something that is as prevalent as it should be and so
I think that that’s something really special about this school.”

The pride parade in San Francisco is up next on June 24, followed by San Diego on
July 21.

Alliant International University has a strong and proud history supporting LGBT rights.
Alliant’s California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) offers one of the only
LGBT Human Services and Mental Health certificate programs in the country. Focused on fostering respect for human diversity, Alliant has been
a leader in promoting diversity, multiculturalism and internationalism.